In the UK Daily Express Friday Feb 26th
For Kyra
Kyra, Kyra, how can it be?
There was no safety net in place,
To keep your future full and bright,
To keep the smile locked on your face.
I can not fail to shed a tear,
Each time I stumble on your grin,
Sweet almond eyes and cheeky look,
Your death a waste, a dreadful sin.
A child of beauty, skin soft black,
The warning signs they were all there,
The school had fingers on the bell,
But others didn’t seem to care.
A photo shows your warm brown eyes,
Enough to thaw a heart of ice,
How could you starve when fridge was full,
And who I ask will pay the price?
A shameful scandal, massive slur,
On squalid mattress there you passed,
Sustained and punitive it was,
I pray you’ve found some peace at last.
Ma I ripped the page from the paper yesterday and can’t find an exact link
The reporter is John Twomey (CrimeReporter). I googled express.co.uk, but can’t find back reports. The article has photographs of Kara, one of a full fridge, one of her Mother and another of her stepfather who both admit manslaughter
I have just noticed my stupid typo, Her name is KHYRA I missed out an H
My thanks to Tech who has provided a link, with a better account of the background details to this tragic case.. Telegraph a classier paper than the one I read
Plain and simple… a tragedy. A link for the curious:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/7325630/Two-more-child-deaths-in-Birmingham-where-welfare-officers-failed-to-help-Khyra-Ishaq.html
Civilized was stricken from society long ago. Your poem rises up to Heaven. Kyra sees.
Great poem yes its sad. So much of this is happening all over the world.
Bravo! the flow was great, your wording was to paint the feeling. The message is clear and you capture the reader.. well done, I starred you for a great job and enjoyable read. Dana
what a beautiful tribute
well done. Makes a point
*going to see that article, I missed it*
Be it beast or human, it seems we all on earth live in a jungle from one degree or another.
Your poem as always rings a bell of attention.
Your poem made me want to learn more about this horrible tragedy.
I googled, but came up blank.
Could you add a link?
This is happening far too often.
Where children are treated worse than dogs.
civility will never be wholly actualized, but we will continue to strive for its ideal form.
this is civility of a lesser degree and a tragic consequence thereof.
You are such a caring soul, Cassie. These blessings you wish upon others? I wish better for your heart to know they hear them, and are at peace.
Amen. The poor darling had no one to love her but she has the world to mourn.
This feels contrived. Sounds like a terrible situation though.
i need a link to get this one
any way its sounds nice if that counts
Cassie, it is tragic, it is a stupid system… I worked in a hospital in Texas where children came in with severe burns .. back in the ’70s
They were reported to childrens services, yet some short time later they were found dead asphyxiated in a van, Evidently some parents are very good at evading the system and fooling it, or the system is broken and has been for a long time….
This is a wonderful tribute poem … there are so many children and babies being abused that it breaks my heart to think about it.
As always Cassie, you show the warmest , motherly compassion.I feel your care and concern across the ocean.As mothers, we extend our maternal love to suffering children of the world.It is something we feel so deeply about and identify with.Thanks for such a meaningful sharing.
Khyra Ishaq is a classic example of lots of people producing lots of pieces of paper and running round in circles.
“Nobody resigns, they have all ticked the boxes, but they have failed.”
What a horrible tragedy. I’m sure abuse has been going on since the beginning of humans. A total lack of respect for human life and a lack of respect for the vulnerability of children. I hope these so called parents rot in a jail somewhere. Especially the mother…where was her head at? Hooked on a stupid man and ignoring her little one. Makes me angry.
Good writing, Cassie. Stirred my mental pot.